Are you sure?

You know when you try something again after a long time of not having that something; like a type of biscuit for example? I am a massive biscuit fan, in fact I could write a book about my love of biscuits and what works and what doesn't. Party rings for example don't cut it with me, whereas a bourbon or a custard cream are just pure joy. I tend to fast or feast on a type of biscuit and then give it a break and so when you then return to say, the custard cream you realise how much you enjoy them. The perfection of the creamy centre with the light patterned biscuit is a pure biscuity joy. The bourbon is obviously unmatched for chocolately heaven in the biscuit world, by biscuit world I don't include cookies. They have their own food group in my eyes and it is not one that i enter very often. There is the American imitation of the bourbon biscuit, a wannabe; but that is all the Oreo biscuit will ever be, a bad imitation. To compare the Oreo to the bourbon would be like comparing cool mustard (you know the insipid squeezable yellow gunk that looks and smells like the contents of a newborn's nappy), to the sheer beauty of English mustard. Mustard is not  mustard unless your nose runs seconds after eating it. Mustard should also not be squeezable. It should come in a glass jar and when the contents of this jar come to an end you find  that you are taking an over size knife, scraping around a the glass bottom knowing full well that the last dregs will never be gotten.

 I digress as ever, but my point is this, like an unintentional break from custard creams, I took a break from sewing and blogging. No reason really, 2011 was full of bad stuff that made me disinclined to sew or indeed write about my lack of sewing.

So this week I dug out some of my old bags and thought to myself, you are not bad at this sewing lark Butchart, get your bloody act together. So I did and it feels great. There will hopefully pictures to follow soon and stuff in my shop to buy.

What have you given up and then gone back to and realised, blimey this is lovely?

New YEar Bulge

One of the drawbacks of being a WW leader is that i have to not only test my scales but get weighed in regularly with my manager.  It is brilliant in that i stay a healthy weight although it fluctuates a lot as i am a huge lover of food and wine, but not great after Christmas.  Well i put on 6.5 lbs but after my weigh in i have lost 4.5 of them so whoop whoop to me.  It was during this weigh in that i found out that a lot of my admin at home (I am technically self employed) as not been the best.  Not a major problem just paperwork to do before the next tax return.  However i do maintain that creativity and organisation are not a the best of friends.  Well that is my excuse and i am sticking to it.

I did a huge food shop on the way home stocking up with all things gorgeous and healthy including lots of lemons as i have an ice cream maker - from Santa.  The ice cream maker is responsible for the majority of the 6.5lbs and my idea to make Terry's chocolate orange ice cream was not the best move for my waist line.  Although an incredible decision for my taste buds

So in the fruit and veg shop i was stocking up on lemons to make a sorbet, healthy you see.  But of course the natural progression from lemons is gin which made me think about a large G&T this evening.  Well then i got thinking about a gin and tonic sorbet with a hint of lemon.  Genius i hear you cry, but of course the downfall is that alcohol does not freeze.  I think i may have cracked it though so am off to have a try now.  I shall report back and if it works i will share the recipe.  Obviously if it works i will not be sharing any sorbet!!

No progression on the corset though and i was going to get some done today but paperwork, twiglets and now gin and tonic sorbet have taken over.  But a full corset making day on Monday i think.

ps i found the twiglets in the cupboard whilst unpacking the shopping so felt it only wise to eat them.

How are you?

Happy New Year

I am getting ready for a big party this afternoon.  Like other parents my days of going out until 4 in the morning have been put on hold for a few years.  But we are having a  house full this afternoon including at least 12 children. Yes i am silently screaming.  But, i did find some time to do a spot of sewing or rather cutting yesterday.

If you remember i bought a corset making kit from the fabulous Julia at sewcurvy.  I meant to take a lovely picture of the  wrapping and all the loveliness within, basically though i was just too anxious to get into it so completely forgot about the photo taking.

The kit itself has everything you need and it looks a quite daunting project.  As Julia said though it is just a lot of straight lines.  my worry is that i will rush everything or be less accurate than is called for. (I am well aware of my own downfalls believe me)

So, I have read the FAQs in the kit at least three times.  I let go of ego when i did the measurements (and luckily there is an FAQ for that as well)  After losing a lot of weight i now generally buy a 12 or a size 10 if the shop is being nice to me.  However in the corset measurements, my measurements are for a size 14.  Now i know this doesn't matter in the slightest but i had to resist the temptation to make a size 12. Actually my waist falls between the two so i will go for the bigger and then shout for Julia's help at the end if needed.

In the FAQ's it has a fantastic bit from a size 8 lady who is having to cut herself out a size 12.  This made me feel better.

So i cut out the pattern pieces, pinned to the fabric, chalked round and CAREFULLY cut out. Writing on the wrong side the pattern number and the correct way up.  I am also planning to faintly draw in sewing lines.  I am very excited by this project though.  The female form in all its shape and sizes is after all a beautiful thing and should be celebrated.

See you in 2011.

Whoop Whoop

Really pleased to say i had a creative urge today and managed to make a couple of things for my folksy shop.  I am a bit sad to sell the bracelet as i absolutely love it and it would go brilliantly with a dress i have just bought in the sales.  Hey Ho

Have any of you managed to be creative over the Xmas Period

Martha has also got the creative bug this holiday and has completed her first bit of sewing.  I only helped slightly with threading the needle. She is over the moon.

My next plan is to start with the corset making.  I can definitely say that after CHristmas i need all the help i can get in the waist department.

Better late than never

This is the present i made for my sister in law Naomi.  It is a wrist cuff.  I only had time to take a quick photo so it isn't the best and it would have been nice to have taken one with Naomi wearing it but time was short and Christmas day itself very hectic.

The large fabric flower was a huge joy to make, very easy and i think hugely effective.  It is sewn onto a velvet fabric piece. At the moment it is a simple Velcro fastening as i was unsure of her wrist size but in future i will do fabric covered buttons and maybe one or two fastening widths to choose from.  SO tell me what do you think?

It really suits her style and is a fantastic way to use up old fabric bits.  I am thinking of making some for my shop.

Happy New year

Pre CHristmas Promise

Where has the time come.  This is a ridiculously short post to basically say i have bag photos, new wrist cuff photos and corset pack photos to show.  They will be on today.  Honest.  There it is in writing i have to do it now.

Happy Christmas eve eve

Corset Crazy

I have finally done it.  After months of talking about buying a corset, or trying to make one. I have got my act in gear and bought a kit from the lovely Julia's website I want one to wear as outer wear so I have gone for the under the bust kind.  I am a big fan of the Puppini sisters and it is that look i am going for.